November 18, 2016

India tops the batting order for international student experience

Student mobility between Wollongong and India is a key focus of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UOW and Manipal University, India.

During a recent trip to India, UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings, CBE, visited Manipal University, one of India’s leading higher education institutions, to enter into a new strategic partnership.

Professor Wellings was accompanied on the trip by UOW Ambassador and cricket legend Adam Gilchrist, and was joined by Manipal University Vice-Chancellor, Dr H Vinod Bhat, at an MoU signing event in Manipal on Friday 11 November 2016.

The MoU cements the relationship between the two institutions and will create new opportunities for joint educational work, allowing students to study at both UOW and Manipal University, as well as the opportunity for academic collaboration in the fields of IT, engineering and medical training and research.

The collaboration activities outlined in the MOU include academic visits, research collaborations, exchange of specific expertise in research commercialisation, interdisciplinary research, innovation and technology transfers and staff and student exchange.

Professor Wellings said the MoU signing strengthens the connection between UOW and a leading institution in an important part of the world.

"It will be a long term commitment in India and with Adam Gilchrist as our ambassador we have a great opportunity to undertake a whole range of initiatives with universities in India,” he said.

“Each year we have approximately 1,000 Indian students joining us at Dubai or Wollongong and we believe that we share common values and common goals with Manipal University.

“This partnership fosters opportunities for articulation, research and academic collaboration, as well as short courses and student and staff exchange between the two institutions,” Professor Wellings said.

Announcement of the agreement was well received in India, attracting widespread positive coverage across many Indian media outlets.

Manipal University is renowned for excellence in higher education and has over 28,000 students from 57 nationalities at their main campus at Karnataka, India. The University is rated in the top private universities in India.